Dubai jails journalists for libel

Here's a reminder to those British hacks who think it might be fun, and profitable, to practise journalism in Dubai. Two journalists have just been sentenced to two months' jail for libel. C. G. Prem Chandran, a former editor of the English-language daily Khaleej Times, and Egyptian journalist Mohsen Rashed Hussein were found guilty of defaming an Iranian woman in a Khaleej Times article in June 2006. They are to appeal. In a separate case, two men were recently sentenced to jail for defaming a local official on an internet site which has since been shut down. They are also appealing. (Via Middle East Times)